Dangers of Leaving Children and Pets in Vehicles

June 25, 2013

Now that summer is finally here, we need to pay attention to the dangers that come along with the hot weather. When running errands, parents need to be cautious about leaving children and pets alone in parked cars. Within three minutes of parking, a car’s interior temperature can increase from 78 to 100 degrees. Below are some alternatives to leaving children and pets in cars.

Bring them inside

A simple way to ensure your child and/or pet is safe from the dangers of a hot car is to bring them inside with you. Of course, it’s a hassle to wrestle with the car seat at each stop, but if your child’s health and safety depends on it, the extra hassle is worth it.

Don’t bring them along

If you are going to locations where you cannot bring in your child or pet, don’t bring them along. Leave your pet in the safety of your home while you are running errands instead of putting their health at risk in a hot car. If you are running a significant amount of errands, hire a babysitter or drop off your children at a childcare center for the day. Your child will have more fun playing rather than riding around in a car anyways.

Use the drive through

Using the drive through is a great way to avoid the hassle of entering and exiting the car with your child. Your child or pet can relax in the air conditioned interior while you accomplish all of your tasks for the day.

Make sure your car is locked

Another important thing to remember is to always keep your car locked when it is not in use. This will prevent your child from playing in the car on a hot day. Although they might just be playing, your child can still be exposed to intense heat-conditions that may lead to heatstroke, dehydration, or hyperthermia.